Presto 01781 Pressure Canner/Cooker Review

If you want to enjoy the flavors of seasonal fruits and vegetables all year round, without damaging their nutritional value or adding unnecessary chemicals, then preserving them using pressure canning is the best option for you.

Pressure canning sterilizes glass jars of the food by heating them to 240°F for the requisite amount of time. This easy process has been around since the time of the Napoleonic wars and requires a good quality pressure canner/cooker in order to ensure that the food is sterilized properly.

We believe that if you want a good quality pressure canner/cooker value for money matters, in which case you cannot go past the Presto Pressure Canner/Cooker.

About The Product

Perhaps you have homegrown peas, potatoes, carrots or corn that you wish to enjoy throughout the year. These can be easily and safely preserved using a pressure canner/cooker for all-year-round enjoyment without needing to add chemicals to prevent them spoiling.

Presto has been making pressure canners/cookers since 1905, giving it plenty of experience in the manufacturing of quality pressure canners/cookers.

Features Of The Presto Pressure Canner/Cooker

There are several features that make the Presto Pressure Canner/cooker an ideal cooking vessel for those who want to preserve their foods for all year round enjoyment.

What We Like

There are many positive reviews for this pressure canner/cooker available online, with a very high rating.

Perhaps one of the most common statements we found by reviewers, was that the Presto Pressure Canner/Cooker does what it is supposed to do. While this may sound petty, or even minor, there is comfort in knowing that when you invest in the Presto Pressure Canner/Cooker it will do what it is supposed to do.

You can be nothing more frustrating sometimes that having got a product, only to discover that it does not do what you expected it to do. This clearly is not a problem for the Presto Pressure Canner/Cooker.

One positive reviewer commented on the unexpected joy of receiving a canning rack, as this had not been listed amongst the components provided. We do not know if this is true for all Presto Pressure Canners/Cookers however it certainly lead to one very satisfied customer.

The ability for the Presto Pressure Canner/Cooker to be used on a glass top range unlike some of its competitors was definitely a positive feature that many reviewers found useful. In some cases, it was this very feature that had determined which pressure canner/cooker they bought.

It is the Presto Pressure Canner/Cooker is lightweight but sturdy construction that allows it to be used on glass top ranges. This has the bonus advantage that it is not cumbersome to use.

Many reviewers found the presence of different safety features available with the Presto Pressure Canner/Cooker reassuring, especially if they were beginners at pressure canning. The dial pressure gauge on the lid makes it easy to determine the exact pressure inside the canner.

The Presto Pressure Canner/Cooker also comes with a rocker and a pressure release valve, all features that add to its safe use.

What We Do Not Like

One of the disadvantages of the Presto Pressure Canner/Cooker is that because it is made from aluminum it cannot be washed in the dishwasher.

Actually, since most pressure canners are made from aluminum, due to the advantages that aluminum provides as a construction material, most pressure canners/cookers cannot be washed in the dishwasher.

The Presto Pressure Canner/Cooker has rubber O-ring gaskets and an emergency plug that will need to be replaced occasionally in order to ensure that the pressure canner can be pressurized. Regularly treating the rubber gaskets and emergency plug with vegetable oil will help to keep them pliant and prevent them from cracking.

While there are some pressure canners/cookers that do not require rubber gaskets, these are noticeably more expensive than the Presto Pressure Canner/Cooker.

Yes - it can be annoying to discover a rubber gasket has perished if you haven’t used your canner and sometime this can be easily remedied by keeping a spare gasket someplace safe and convenient.

A small number of reviewers found the instructions a little unclear. For a beginner, we can imagine that this might be very frustrating, however with many video clips available online it should be easy to work out how to use the Presto Pressure Canner/Cooker if you are in any doubt.

Indeed, we quickly and easily found helpful videos on YouTube within 15 seconds of looking.

Buying Advice

The Presto Pressure Canner/Cooker would have to be one of the best value for money pressure canners available on the market and is available from reputable online stores such as Amazon.

Conclusion

While the Presto Pressure Canner/Cooker has rubber gaskets that will perish in time and instructions that some reviewers found unclear, there are many positive features to recommend it.

Firstly, this pressure canner/cooker from Presto does what it is supposed to do. The fact that the Presto Pressure Canner/Cooker is not as heavy as some other similar brands, means that it is easier to use and is also able to be used on glass top ranges.

The few negative features that reviewers found are either common for pressure canners/cookers (i.e. unable to be cleaned in a dishwasher and perishable rubber gaskets) or alternatively have an easy solution available on the Internet.